Mine post



Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,653

. J. T. YOUGER MINE POST Filed Nov, 26, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l v 3 m r i *3 22 2, 34 {If FIc,./.

FIG-4. Flav fal /V 7: YOl/GER -INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN T. YOUGER, 0F CARMIGHAELS, PENNSYLVANIA.

MINE POST.

Application filed November 26, 1923. Serial No. 677,071.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. Youonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carmichaels, in the county of Greene and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mine Posts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to supporting devices, and more particularly to a mine post.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a mine post of simple construction and operation and which possesses great strength and can be quickly and easily applied. A further object is to provide a mine post which, when desired, can be readily released so as to be removed to-a new location. Further objects will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the post;

I Figure 2 is a perspective detail of the extension member;

Figure 3 is a side view of one of the latch members;

Figure 4 is an edge View of one of the latch members looking from line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a detail top plan view of the locking cam;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 1, the latch members and associated parts be ing omitted;

Figure 8 is a detail of the top supporting plate.

The post includes a base member 1 of box-like construction on the lower end of which is secured a channel plate 2 within which is mounted a block 3 of wood or other suitable material for frictionally grip ping the mine floor. An extension member 4 which is preferably, though not necessarily, formed from a section of I-beam, is slidably mounted in base member 1. A rack bar 5 is secured to one face of web 4 of member 4 and is provided with a plurality of outwardly directed teeth 5 of substantially V-shape. A channel plate 6 is loosely mounted on the upper end of memher 4 by means of a pin 7 which passes through a wooden block 8 mounted in plate 6, this pin also passing through a slot 9 provided in an extension 10 of web 4*, the

under face of block 8 being provided with a recess 8 to accommodate extension 10. By this means the block is loosely secured to the upper end of member 4 so as to be movable about an axis extending transversely of this member. This permits the block to adjust itself to the slant of the mine roof. Member 4 may be raised by means of a bar or other instrument inserted through suitable openings 1 provided through the front of base member 1, the bar being placed between the teeth 5 of rack 5 so as to raise the same upon the outer end of the bar being depressed.

A locking block 11 is slidably mounted between two supporting plates 12 and 13 secured to the front wall of base member 1, this block being provided on its inner face with a plurality of teeth 11 similar to the teeth 5? of rack bar 5. A cam member 14 of elliptical cross-section is rockably mounted on gudgeons 15 one of which extends into the upper supporting plate 12, the lower one of the gudgeons resting upon a bearing ball 16 in a depression 17 provided in the lower plate 13, the lower end of the gudgeon being bored out to provide a seat for the ball 16. Tension springs 18 are secured at their outer ends about gudgeons 15, the inner ends of these springs being secured to block 11 adjacent to the 'upper and lower ends thereof. As will be noted more clearly from Figure 6, the front wall of base member 1 is provided with a suitable opening which accommodates the supporting plates and the block and cam and associated parts. An operating arm 19 extends from the central portion of cam member 14 so that by swinging this arm into its extreme position in either direction the cam member acts to force block 11 inwardly into locking engagement with rack bar 5 thus locking extension member 4 against downward movement.

For securing the cam member in operative position I provide, at each side of base member 1, a latch member 20 which ispivotally mounted at 21 in a supporting bracket 22 secured to the side of basemember 1. This latch member is provided with a hook element 23 disposed to engage over arm 19 of the cam member so as to hold the cam member in operative position. Latch member 20 is further provided with a depending cam portion 24 and with an offset knob 25. When it is desired to release extension member 4 for the purpose of removing the post, a chain from a post puller is placed over knob 25, the puller being positioned in rear of the post so that by exerting pull on the knob the latch member is turned into inoperative position so as to release arm 19 of the cam member. After arm 19 has been released, cam portion 24 of the latch member contacts with arm 19 so as to force the same away from base member 1 thus turning the cam member sufficiently to release block 11 which is then moved outwardly by the combined action of tension springs 18 and the outward pressure exerted by the inclined lower faces of teeth 5 on the inclined upper faces of teeth 11*. This provides very simple and highly efficient means for releasing the extension member so as to permit lowering of the same, after which the post can be removed and set up in a new location.

Preferably, though not necessarily, a stop pin 26 is secured across member 4 adjacent to the lower end thereof and in rear of web 4 Thispin is positioned to contact with a U-shaped stop member 27 secured in base member 1 and extending inwardly thereof to web 41*. This serves to effectually prevent complete withdrawal of extension member from the base member. For convenience in handling the post I provide a plurality of openings 1 through the back wall of base member 1. These openings are adapted for reception of a hook or other suitable instrument which may be connected to a block and tackle for pulling the post into position or for pulling the post out of a fall of slate, if necessary.

What I claim is:

1. In a mine post, a base member, an extension member slidably mounted in the base member, a rack bar secured to the extension member and provided with substantially V-shaped teeth, supporting plates carried by the base member, a lock block slidably inounted between said plates and provided on its inner face with substantially V-shaped teeth, a cam member pivoted between the plates and positioned to force the block into engagement with the rack bar when said cam member is turned into operative position, and means for disengaging the block from the rack bar when the cam member is turned into inoperative position.

2. In a mine post, a base member, an extension member slidably mounted in the base member, a rack bar secured to the extension member, supporting plates carried by the base member, a lock block slidably mounted between said plates and provided on its inner face with elements adapted for engagement with the rack bar, a cam member pivoted between the plates and positioned to force the block into engagement with the rack bar when sald cam member is turned into operative position, and means for disengaging the block from the rack bar when the cam member is turned into inoperative position.

3. In a mine post, a base member, an extension member slidably mounted in the base member, a rack bar secured to the extension member, supporting plates carried by the base member, a lock block slidably mounted between said plates and provided on its inner face with elements adapted for en-. gagement with the rack bar, a cam member pivoted between the plates and positioned to force the block into engagement with the rack bar when said cam member is turned into operative position, and means for securing the cam member in operative position and for forcing it into inoperative position.

4.. In a mine post, a base member, an extension member slidably mounted in the base member, a rack bar secured to the extension member, supporting plates carried by the base member, a lock block slidably mounted between said plates and provided on its inner face with elements adapted for engagement with the rack bar, a cam member pivoted between the plates and positioned to force the block into engagement with the rack bar when said cammember is turned into operative position, and tension springs secured at their outer ends and having their inner ends attached to the block for moving the same outwardly out of engagement with'the rack bar when the cam member is turned into inoperative position.

5. In a mine post, a base member, an extension member slidably mounted in the base member, a rack bar secured to the extension member, supporting plates carried by the base member, a lock block slidably mounted between said plates and provided on its inner face with elements adapted for engagement with the rack bar, a cam member pivoted between the plates and positioned to force the block into engagement with the rack bar when said cam member is turned intooperative position, said cam member being provided with an outwardly projecting arm, and a latch member pivoted on the base member and provided with an element disposed to engage over said arm for locking the cam member in operative position, said latch member being further provided with a cam element disposed to contact with the arm of the cam member and force the latter into inoperative positionas the latch member is turned into inoperative position.

6. In a mine post, a base member, an extension member slidably mounted in the base member, a block mounted for movement toward and away from the extension member, said block and the extension member having cooperating means for securing the extension member raised when the block is in its inner operative position, said means acting to force the block outwardly and release said extension member when the block is released, a cam positioned to contact with the block and force it into operative position, said cam including an arm projecting therefrom, and a latch member mounted on the base member and engaging over said arm to hold the cam in operative position, the latch member including a cam element disposed to contact with the arm and move the cam into inoperative position to release the block when said latch member is moved into inoperative position.

7. In a mine post, a base member, an extension member slidably mounted in the base member, a block mounted for movement toward and away from the extension member, said block and the extension member having cooperating means for securing the extension member raised when the block is in its inner operative position, a cam positioned tocontact with the block and force it into operative position, said cam including an arm projecting therefrom, a latch member mounted on the base member and engaging over said arm to hold the cam in operative position, the latch member including a cam element disposed to contact with the arm and move the cam into inoperative position to release the block when said latch member is moved into inoperative po-' sition, and means for moving the block out 01'' engagement with the extension member when said cam member is moved into inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN T. YOUGER. 

